Click here for the 2009-10 University of Evansville Golf Media Guide

There's plenty of veteran leadership on the University of Evansville golf teams this year, and that has created an optimistic outlook as Coach Jim Hamilton's men's and women's teams prepare for the start of the 2009-10 season. The women compete for the first time Sept. 14 in the opening round of the Murray State Invitational. The men open on Sept. 19 at the Michigan State Invitational.

Three proven players form the nucleus of the women’s team. Emily Johnson stepped up in her first full year of collegiate competition and led the Aces with an 80.74 average. Lauren Ellerman was solid as a freshman with an 81.82 average and led the Aces at the MVC Championship, and Maggie Wood was #3 with an 83.74 average as a sophomore. Coach Hamilton has two other returning players who will be important in determining how well the Aces do as a team this fall–Alyssa Key and Chelsea Zusan. Sophomore Amanda Archer is the only newcomer on the 2009-10 squad.

“The players have been working extremely hard to prepare for the coming season, and we are looking forward to seeing the progress that we’ve made,” Hamilton said. “Since we’ll be hosting the MVC Championship in April (18th-20 at Rolling Hills Country Club), the girls are excited about showing the community what they can do.”

There was little difference between playing #1 and #4 on last year’s men’s golf team, and the good news is that all four return. Sophomores Neal Millay and Griffin Wood were identical at the top, each using 2,134 strokes to navigate 28 rounds and finish with 76.21 averages. Classmate Michael Sainz was right behind at 76.27, including a team-best 11th place finish at the Missouri Valley Conference Championship. Senior Christian Poling came in at #4 with a 76.43 average. Veterans Andrew Luo, Lucas Zielinski and Ricardo Paredes will compete for the important fifth slot in UE’s lineup, and Coach Jim Hamilton has a six-man freshman class that will try to hurdle the upperclassmen and break into the lineup. The newcomers include Josiah Ashba, Steven Brown, Sam Cobb, Bryan Milloy, Logan Osborne and Tim Simmons.

“The returning players gained valuable experience and playing time last year, which should put us in position to challenge for the MVC championship,” Hamilton says. “I’m very excited about the new players we’ve added to our roster. They will give us added depth and compete immediately.”

Both teams have access to four outstanding local golf courses for their practice rounds, including Rolling Hills, Victoria National, Cambridge and Quail Crossing.